This is bad ass news... Why are we not bloging about this??? MU defeats KU in a game where both teams are ranked, and Josh cannot even get us a Random Royal of the week update..
Missouri is 22-4 and 9-2 in the Big 12 these numbers have not been since the stormin Norman Days. MU has 5 remaining regular season games before the Big 12 tournament and a legitimate chance to have a first round buy in the tourney. Of the 5 remaining games MU will be on the road 3 times which includes games against a weak Colorado that has on 1 win in the conference, the DIRTY jayhawks which have only 1 loss (BAM- MIZ-FKU) in conference, and Texas A&M which has been strong at home as of late. Missouri which has been dominant at home all year winning by a margin 26.7 points on their home court will play Kansas State who beat the tigers earlier in the season and a very strong Oklahoma team which is currently rank #2 in that nation, but most likely moving to #1 after Connecticut’s loss on Monday.
I think it is possible for Missouri to emerge 27-4 at the end of regular season play, but it is more likely they will lose 1 or 2 of these games. Either way Missouri seems a lock for the NCAA tournament.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Friday, February 6, 2009
Mike Shanahan is New Chief's Head Coach!
Not really. And neither is Bill Cowher or Kirk Ferentz or Chan Gailey. However, at one point each was thought to be. Congrats to Todd Haley. I hope he will lead the Chiefs in a new direction....the Super Bowl! Here's to breaking the Steeler's 6 in the next 10 years! Any thoughts on this coach's first moves? Ditch LJ? Toss aside TG? Get ready for the draft? Assemble a staff?
Monday, January 26, 2009
Terms of the Deal Disclosed...
The terms of the deal have been disclosed:
Delaying a chance to make even more money as a free agent, the right-hander agreed Monday to a $38 million, four-year contract that avoided a salary arbitration hearing.
. . .
After earning $1,475,000 last season, Greinke asked for $4.4 million in arbitration when he exchanged proposed salaries with the Royals last week. The team offered $3.4 million. He gets $3.75 million this year, $7.25 million in 2010 and $13.5 million in each of the final two seasons of the deal.
Delaying a chance to make even more money as a free agent, the right-hander agreed Monday to a $38 million, four-year contract that avoided a salary arbitration hearing.
. . .
After earning $1,475,000 last season, Greinke asked for $4.4 million in arbitration when he exchanged proposed salaries with the Royals last week. The team offered $3.4 million. He gets $3.75 million this year, $7.25 million in 2010 and $13.5 million in each of the final two seasons of the deal.
Well, after a series of terrible moves, the Royals and GMDM finally make a great deal. Grienke was eligible for arbitration for this year and next year. This year, the arbitrator would most likely have awarded him close to 3.75 million. It is also likely that, if Grienke another good year, the arbitrator would have awarded him close to 7 million in 2010. So, under the contract, Grienke really does not get any additional money in 2009 or 2010. The contract means we get Grienke for two additional years without giving up a ton of money upfront.
In 2011 and 2012, we owe Grienke 13.5 million. Given that (1) Grienke was probably worth close to 10 or 11 million last year,(2) he is only 24, (3) he should only get better, and (4) the rate of inflation for baseball salaries continually rises, I don't think it is likely that, if we waited until 2011, we could have signed Grienke for anywhere close to 13.5 million. In other words, this is a great deal for the Royals.
I'm actually wondering why Grienke signed this deal.
Greinke Locked Up--
01/26/2009 12:49 PM ET
KANSAS CITY, MO (January 26, 2009) -- The Kansas City Royals today signed right-handed pitcher Zack Greinke to a four-year contract through the 2012 season. Consistent with club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.
MLB.com
KANSAS CITY, MO (January 26, 2009) -- The Kansas City Royals today signed right-handed pitcher Zack Greinke to a four-year contract through the 2012 season. Consistent with club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.
The 25-year old Greinke, the Joe Burke Special Achievement Award winner for 2008, went 13-10 with a 3.47 ERA in 32 starts for Kansas City last season. He set career highs in nearly every category, including innings (202.1), strikeouts (183) and quality starts (23). His 183 strikeouts tied teammate Gil Meche for the fifth-most in the American League. Greinke's 3.47 ERA was the lowest since Kevin Appier's 3.40 mark in 1997 among Royals pitchers who qualified for the ERA title (min. 162 innings). The Royals' first round selection (6th overall) in the 2002 Draft, Greinke currently resides in Orlando, Fla.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Teahen to second...
Mark Teahen will be easy enough to spot this spring.
“I’ll be the tall guy,” he says, “at second base.”
Yep, the Royals are preparing for another spring training, which means another possible position switch for Teahen — this time to second base.
Teahen was among the infielders down at manager Trey Hillman’s Texas ranch last week and took three groundball sessions at second base. Hillman mentioned it on a radio show with broadcasters Ryan Lefebvre and Bob Davis as something the team is looking at.
“Looking over the roster and stuff, that might be the best way to get the majority of my at-bats,” Teahen says. “I don’t know how it will shake out. But it’s something I’ll definitely put my energy into and get as good as I can there, and hopefully it works out.”
This makes three consecutive springs for Teahen to work on a new position. He went from third base to right field to make room for Alex Gordon in 2007, then to left field when José Guillen called dibs on right last year, and now will try a little second base.
Teahen last played there his freshman year in college, and says turning the double play will be the hardest adjustment, especially if he’s still working on the other positions.
“It’ll definitely be tough to try to perfect second base while still doing some outfield and some third base and first base, you know?” Teahen says. “But I have to do what I have to do. I like being on the infield, I like being in the action. If second base gets me there and gets me in the lineup every day, I’ll do everything I can.”
Only six players listed at Teahen’s 6-3, or taller, have ever played as many as 81 games at second base (told this, Teahen joked that he wanted to be listed as 6-2).
The tall second basemen make an interesting list, one that includes Alexei Ramirez, last year’s AL Rookie of the Year runner-up, who is expected to be the White Sox’s starting second baseman.
Also on the list is Danny Ainge, the current GM of the Celtics, and Bobby Randall, who graduated from Kansas State and coached seven seasons at Kansas.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Pioli in, Harm Edwards likely out..
The Chiefs announced today that Scott Pioli has agreed to become our new GM:
Scott Pioli, who has spent nine years helping create a dynasty in New England, will be the Chiefs’ new general manager.
A news conference will be held at 5 p.m. Wednesday to introduce Pioli. He will have the final say over all football operations at Arrowhead Stadium, reporting to Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt.
Pioli, who turns 44 in March, has been with New England since 2000 as vice president for player personnel.
“We are very excited to welcome Scott to the Chiefs,” Hunt said. “With his proven track record of success, Scott is the finest player personnel executive in the NFL, and we look forward to his leadership in building a championship organization.”
No decision has been made yet on whether Herm Edwards will remain Chiefs coach, although it appears unlikely Pioli will retain him. Edwards was still working at his office earlier today, but the Arrowhead Stadium offices were virtually empty in the late afternoon.
Well, the Chiefs got the best GM candidate on the market and he might fire Harm Edwards. Its like Christmas all over again. Thoughts?
Scott Pioli, who has spent nine years helping create a dynasty in New England, will be the Chiefs’ new general manager.
A news conference will be held at 5 p.m. Wednesday to introduce Pioli. He will have the final say over all football operations at Arrowhead Stadium, reporting to Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt.
Pioli, who turns 44 in March, has been with New England since 2000 as vice president for player personnel.
“We are very excited to welcome Scott to the Chiefs,” Hunt said. “With his proven track record of success, Scott is the finest player personnel executive in the NFL, and we look forward to his leadership in building a championship organization.”
No decision has been made yet on whether Herm Edwards will remain Chiefs coach, although it appears unlikely Pioli will retain him. Edwards was still working at his office earlier today, but the Arrowhead Stadium offices were virtually empty in the late afternoon.
Well, the Chiefs got the best GM candidate on the market and he might fire Harm Edwards. Its like Christmas all over again. Thoughts?
Friday, January 9, 2009
Royals waste more money
The Kansas City Star reports that the Royals have come to terms with Willie Bloomquist:
It's not the pizzazz of Rafael Furcal, but the Royals did address the middle infield on Friday by finalizing a two-year deal worth $3 million with veteran Willie Bloomquist. Bloomquist, 31, hit .279 with a .377 on-base percentage in 71 games for the Mariners last year. He'll compete with Alberto Callaspo to be the regular second baseman, with the ability to also play the outfield and some shortstop.
Bloomquist's career line is .263 .322 .324. You probably know where I am going with this, but I'll say it anyway. I know that it is "only" 1.5 million dolllars, but this is a complete waste of money. We already have Callaspo at 2nd and German as our utility infielder. If either of them fail or get injured, we could simply pick someone off waivers who would be just as good as Bloonquist and who would play for the league minimum.
For the money that we have spent on Jacobs, Farnsworth, Crisp and Bloonquist, we could have signed Pat Burrell or Adam Dunn (who for some unknown reason is still available). In other words, instead of signing four bad players, we could have signed an actual good player.
It's not the pizzazz of Rafael Furcal, but the Royals did address the middle infield on Friday by finalizing a two-year deal worth $3 million with veteran Willie Bloomquist. Bloomquist, 31, hit .279 with a .377 on-base percentage in 71 games for the Mariners last year. He'll compete with Alberto Callaspo to be the regular second baseman, with the ability to also play the outfield and some shortstop.
Bloomquist's career line is .263 .322 .324. You probably know where I am going with this, but I'll say it anyway. I know that it is "only" 1.5 million dolllars, but this is a complete waste of money. We already have Callaspo at 2nd and German as our utility infielder. If either of them fail or get injured, we could simply pick someone off waivers who would be just as good as Bloonquist and who would play for the league minimum.
For the money that we have spent on Jacobs, Farnsworth, Crisp and Bloonquist, we could have signed Pat Burrell or Adam Dunn (who for some unknown reason is still available). In other words, instead of signing four bad players, we could have signed an actual good player.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)